FADE TO BLACK PLAY FESTIVAL 2020
INFO: Fade To Black, Houston's first national play festival to showcase the new works of African American playwrights, is currently accepting script submissions.
TO QUALIFY:
Playwright must be the sole author of the submitted work.
Playwright must publicly and openly identify themselves as African-American, Black, or of the African diaspora.
Previously published or produced work by the author or theatre/company is not allowed (See definitions below).
Play must run no longer than 8-10 minutes long on stage. Consider conducting an informal reading to ensure.
Play should accommodate a “bare-stage” set requiring only a minimum of removable stage props and require basic lighting and sound cues.
Play must not be a musical.
Play must not be written for children or youth.
Play must not contain characters that are under 17 years old.
Play must not be a re-submission of previous Fade To Black play festival seasons.
Play must not be considered a translation or adaptation.
Play must not be a film. Screenplays will not be accepted.
Play should be "stand-alone", separate body of work that has not been extracted from a larger, previously written play.
Author must be at least 18 years of age.
Play must be submitted in a PDF format.
SUBMISSION FEE: $0
DEADLINE: APRIL 1, 2020
https://monologuebank.submittable.com/submit/158649/fade-to-black-play-festival-2020
WRITING RESIDENCY PROGRAM 2020/21
Liberation Theatre Company
INFO: Liberation Theatre Company (LTC) for our fourth year, is proud to announce Writing Residency Program 2020 – 2021 (supported by NYSCA and A.R.T. NY); furthers our commitment to the development of new Black playwrights for the American theatre.
The Writing Residency Program will select four early-career playwrights and provide them with dramaturgical and professional support over a ten-month period, during which time they will each be required to complete a new full-length play.
Beginning in May 2020, selected playwrights will attend monthly group meetings to share and refine their works-in-progress in a collaborative, energized setting; meet individually with LTC’s Artistic Director and staff who will provide additional support for their artistic needs, concerns and process; and have the resources of a director and professional actors during a table reading as their play begins to take shape.
Additionally, through connections with the larger New York City theatrical community, LTC will provide access to theatre tickets (when available) and seek to support, inspire, and assist playwrights in any way a small and dedicated company can.
The Residency will conclude in February 2021 with public readings of each playwright’s finished play. Upon successful completion of the program, each playwright will receive an honorarium.
ELIGIBILITY: To be considered for the Writing Residency Program all applicants must be a) residents of New York City at the time of participation (May 2020 – February 2021). b) Applicants must have written at least two full-length plays or three one-act plays. c) The applicant must not have received a production of any of their work that was more developed than a Showcase presentation under the Actors’ Equity Association production code.
DEADLINE: April 1, 2020
PLAYWRIGHTS’ WEEK
The Lark
INFO: Playwrights' Week, The Lark’s Open Access Program, seeks to provide development opportunities for new and diverse voices for the theater by identifying and advancing promising plays that reveal unheard and vital perspectives. This annual, intensive, seven-day festival is designed to foster a peer-based community among a cohort of writers with new work in development.
Our support criteria emphasizes ambitious, fresh, playful, engaging, energizing, provocative, powerful and theatrical work by writers with clear artistic goals who are open to a collaborative development process.
The five writers selected for Playwrights’ Week are provided with twelve hours of rehearsal and a public staged reading to address self-defined developmental goals for their plays, as well as opportunities to engage with fellow participants in supportive group conversation.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Playwrights’ Week 2020 will take place in November 2020.
Each applicant should expect a final response by September 2020.
While there is no official minimum number of pages for submitted full-length plays, we do not accept 10-minute plays or musicals.
Previously produced plays ARE eligible for consideration.
Plays previously submitted to this program are accepted, but we strongly encourage the submission of new work.
Writers living outside of the United States can apply if the script was originally written in English.
Due to the volume of submissions to this program, we will be unable to accept revised scripts during the selection process.
Housing and travel will be provided for all out of town writers.
DEADLINE: April 15, 2020
https://thelarktheatre.submittable.com/submit
THE MIRANDA FAMILY ‘VOCES LATINX’ NATIONAL PLAYWRITING COMPETITION
Repertorio Espanol
INFO: Repertorio Espanol is seeking plays for its Voces Latix playwriting competition. Subject matter and characters must resonate with Latinx audiences and accurately depict the Latinx/Hispanic experience. May be written in either Spanish or English. Playwrights must be residents of the United States or Puerto Rico. Plays that do not meet these requirements will not be considered:
Subject matter and characters must resonate with Latinx audiences and accurately depict the Latinx/Hispanic experience.
Original and un-produced.
Full length plays. (At least- 1 hour and 15 minutes)
Written in either Spanish or English.
Plays that have had readings or a workshop production are acceptable.
No screenplays, one-act plays, adaptations or translations will be accepted.
Absolutely no changes or resubmissions can be made once a script has been submitted.
Playwrights must be at least 18 years of age and residents of the United States or Puerto Rico.
PRIZES:
Grand Prize Winner: $3,000
2nd Place: $2,000
3rd Place: $1,000
DEADLINE: April 15, 2020
https://repertorio.nyc/#/nuestrasvoces-submit
THIS IS HOW WE QUEER THEATER
The Parsnip Ship
INFO: The Parsnip Ship is always looking for new plays and new voices, and for Season Six, we are looking for plays exclusively written by Queer (LGBTQIA+) playwrights. As we believe there are as many distinctive styles and voices as there are playwrights, we remain open to a wide range of plays that will engage audiences in an intimate setting and on a podcast format. We see our recordings as a fun collaborative effort among us, the playwright, the directors, the musicians and the actors! Queer People of Color and Trans + Non-Binary folx are highly encouraged to apply!
Before you send in your play for consideration, please either attend a live episode recording or take a listen to one of our episodes AND read our FAQs on submissions.
The Parsnip Ship is a podcast play company that amplifies bold artists for audiences who crave accessible stories and storytellers. Our live events and audio podcasts are eclectic and transformative, creating communities in person and digitally. Through our work, we revolutionize the way you hear theatre.
The Parsnip Ship re-imagines the concept of the radio play by specifically focusing on stories that differ in form, content and plot by emerging playwrights. The series features new plays and new music performed live and released as a free podcast. This live event and podcast series highlights diverse voices in both theater and music and brings awareness to inspiring artists. No other theatrical event provides a free live event with our format: curation of live independent musicians and a personal interview with the playwright. Hosted by Iyvon Edebiri and recorded live every month in Brooklyn, The Parsnip Ship is available on iTunes, Spotify, and Stitcher.
What are we looking for in a TPS produced audio drama/radio play?
Does the play not only work, but excel in an audio only format?
Is the play exciting and unexpected?
Does the play express diversity in its perspective, voice, or content?
Is this play engaged in socially conscious and civic dialogue?
What would the world be missing if it didn’t have this play?
How does the two-round submissions process work?
Due to an overwhelming volume of submissions in past years, The Parsnip Ship does a two-round submission cycle for applicants. We are asking playwrights to only submit the first 15 pages of their plays for consideration of Round One evaluations. If selected to go forward, playwrights will be asked to send their full length draft or complete script for Round Two evaluation.
What are the logistical elements you should know before applying:
The Parsnip Ship episodes are comprised of 3 major parts: the play, the music, and the interview with the playwright.
Your play must have an estimated run time of no less than 50 minutes and no more than 90 minutes.
Minimum 50 pages for the full script in standard format, text and font
Maximum 90 pages for the full script in standard format, text and font
We can ONLY accommodate up to 6 readers (this includes a reader for stage directions). Please do NOT submit a play that will require more than 6 readers.
We do not accept 10-minute play submissions. Please do not send in 10-minute plays.
We do accept plays with music as long as the music is either original or does not infringe on the copyright of the original artist
Selected playwrights in the NYC area are required to come to an episode prior to their scheduled episode, especially if they’ve never attended a live recording of The Parsnip Ship.
You are only able to submit one play for consideration for this season.
We prefer New York City or locally based playwrights.
Unfortunately, as a young arts org we cannot afford to pay for or reimburse travel expenses related to attending rehearsals/the live recording.
Our playwright must be present for the live recording (and usually rehearsals too). Please DO NOT apply if you live outside the NYC area and you can not travel for the live recording.
We can accommodate 3 inputs for our musical guest, i.e. 1 mic and 2 instruments/2 mics and 1 instrument/3 mics.
It is strongly encouraged to listen to a previous episode via http://www.theparsnipship.com/#listen-in
Does The Parsnip Ship work on an AEA, SAG or SDC contract?
The Parsnip Ship does not work on an AEA or SAG contract or any union contract. Due to our hybrid format of storytelling and music, our focus on voluntary artistic collaboration, along with our free admission for the live recording, and free downloads of our episodes, none of the unions have found reason to have jurisdiction over our operations. Even though we are not beholden to a union, The Parsnip Ship believes in creating and fostering a fun, collaborative and respectful environment between our team and our artistic collaborators.
Who does the casting for each episode? What about a director?
The Parsnip Ship believes in being as playwright-led as possible. This means that you (the playwright, and/or director) are free to cast and collaborate with whomever you would like with The Parsnip Ship’s approval. If help is needed with casting a particular role or finding a director, The Parsnip Ship team has a wide network of actors and collaborators to reach out to. Playwrights should consult with us about public casting calls and other methods, should the need arise. Although we love when playwrights are excited to confirm their collaborators, it is important to speak with us before confirming the cast, director or musician for the live recording.
DEADLINE: Extended to April 30, 2020
https://www.theparsnipship.com/apply
CALL FOR PLAYS: 10 Minutes To…
BBC Writers Room
INFO: 10 Minutes To… is a short play project where writers submit plays that respond to a specific theme. The current theme is Call Home. Writers can respond to this theme in any way they see fit. A selection of these plays are chosen to be produced.
Due to the Coronavirus the scheduled 10 Mins To... performance weekend in May will no longer be able to go ahead as planned. However, Live Theatre hope writers will still take part in this project and submit a script. They will still read all submitted scripts and are currently looking at alternative platforms such as audio performance for digital release.
Submissions are open for 10 Minutes To... Call Home.
Submission guidelines:
Plays must:
respond to the theme of 10 Minutes To...Call Home
be no longer than 10 minutes
have no more than four characters
be able to be performed with minimal staging and technical support
be original in content
Open to UK writers only
DEADLINE: April 30, 2020
https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/opportunities/live-theatre
I AM SOUL Playwrights Residency Program
National Black Theatre
INFO: Launched in 2012, I AM SOUL - Playwrights Residency Program is the only program in the country that is dedicated to Black playwrights, whose work demonstrates exceptional artistic merit and excellence in the theatrical field, with a commitment to a production. Coined as a dream MFA program, this residency also seeks to unleash the soul of a playwright on the page so that they can develop, hone and explore new ways of artistic expression in a safe, supported and transformative environment.
Alongside NBT’s Artistic Director, the selected playwright (s) will develop a new play during the eighteen (18) month residency. The program provides the playwright with a stipend, administrative and dramaturgical support, in-house readings, and two 29-hour workshops. This process culminates with a Workshop Production in NBT’s following season.
With I AM SOUL, NBT seeks to deepen the artistic relationship between Black theatrical institutions and Black playwrights in order to re-establish Black theatrical institutions as the foremost supporters and producers of new works created by Black playwrights.
DEADLINE: May 1, 2020
https://www.nationalblacktheatre.org/playwrights-residency
BRTW ARTIST SUBMISSIONS: MELANATED MONDAYS
Black Revolutionary Theatre Workshop
INFO: Each month, Black Revolutionary Theatre Workshop (in New York) producers curate a selection of new works by the hottest up-and-coming Black writers around a new theme. On the 3rd Monday of each month, BRTW’s ensemble brings these pieces to life and facilitates a conversation with the audience about the underlying societal issues highlighted in the pieces and potential solutions to those challenges.
If you're a writer [plays, poetry, music, screenplays] of African heritage who would like to share your work that directly relates to Black experiences with our audience, please submit your work.
HONORARIUM: $50
DEADLINE: Ongoing
https://airtable.com/shr9KOsK68EZX9K8E
SUBMISSION OPPORTUNITY
San Diego REPertory Theatre
INFO: San Diego REPertory Theatre is happy to accept scripts from agents and theater professionals with whom we have an existing relationship. In general, we no longer accept unsolicited scripts from unrepresented writers. However, we continue to offer an open submission policy for plays and musicals from Latino(a) writers across the country because we are committed to supporting today’s Latino(a) voices. In addition, local writers residing in the Southern California area may submit a query letter about their new work that includes a current email contact and:
A brief biography of your writing history, noting awards and production history
A paragraph about why your play is a good match for the San Diego REP
A one-page synopsis of the play including number of cast, genre & run-time
For musicals, please also include a CD with sample songs from the score
Our six-show season can include full-length plays, musicals with a small cast and band, solo pieces, and adaptations performed on one of two stages (250-500 seats) for about 4 weeks. Past programming has highlighted voices of the Latino, African-Americans, and Jewish communities. Before submitting, please make sure that your script is aligned with our mission. It is also advised that you attend some of our productions to become more familiar with our sensibility.
If we are interested, we will contact you to request a copy of the full script within a few months.
Send to:
San Diego REPertory Theatre
Literary Department
79 Horton Plaza
San Diego, CA 92101
DEADLINE: Ongoing
https://www.sdrep.org/opportunities.php